On Thursday, the Senate gave final approval to legislation expanding gun owners' rights and sent it to Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland

Keith Dailey, Strickland's spokesman, called provisions in the legislation "common sense protections for law-abiding gun owners."

The bill, approved 25-7 in the Senate, would allow people who are eligible to own guns but don't have concealed carry permits to carry unloaded firearms and ammunition in their vehicles.

It also would allow concealed carry permit holders to carry a loaded handgun in an unlocked glove compartment or center console, as long as it was closed. In addition, the bill would allow concealed carry in shelters – including those in state parks, restrooms and parking garages.

The provisions were added to legislation enacting the so-called "castle doctrine" – giving Ohioans the right to defend themselves against intruders with guns, baseball bats or anything else without having to prove they acted in self-defense.

It would be up to prosecutors to prove they didn't act in self-defense.

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